OSHA issued its final rule in May 2015 to strengthen protections for construction workers in confined spaces (29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA §§1926.1200 through 1926.1213 —Confined Spaces in Construction), which was designed to help save lives in an industry where environments are constantly evolving. Roughly 20 months later, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the construction industry not only topped its 2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), but it also experienced the largest number of construction worker deaths since 2008.1 Of those, 15 percent were related to exposure to harmful substances or environments.2 

Fractions of a second count when faced with a hazardous environment. All parties involved in confined space work must employ a safety-first mentality. That means utilizing a mix of proper preparation techniques, putting these practices into action and ensuring the right people are in position.